David Axelrod

David M. Axelrod (22 February 1955-) was Senior Adviser to the President from 20 January 2009 to 10 January 2011, succeeding Barry Jackson and preceding David Plouffe. Axelrod served as Chief Strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and he also became a Senior Political Commentator for CNN and director of the non-partisan Institute of Politics.

Biography
David M. Axelrod was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City, New York in 1955, and he was raised in a Reform Jewish family. At thirteen years old, he began selling campaign buttons for Robert F. Kennedy during his 1968 presidential campaign, and he went on to receive his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Chicago. Axelrod wrote for the Hyde Park Herald and for the Chicago Tribune, working for the latter for eight years. He became the paper's youngest political writer in 1981, and he joined Senator Paul Simon's campaign as communications director in 1984, rising to co-campaign manager just a few weeks later. In 1985, he formed the Axelrod & Associates political consultancy firm, and he built a reputation for himself while working with several black Democratic Party candidates. In 2008, he became the campaign manager for fellow Illinois Democrat Barack Obama, whom he had met 16 years earlier. After securing him election to the presidency, Axelrod was appointed Senior Adviser to the President, serving from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, he secured re-election for Obama after returning to his position as campaign manager. Axelrod became director of the non-partisan Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago as well as a Senior Political Commentator for CNN, continuing a successful career.